Burns
called the proposal for a new facility "an opportunity that could
not be missed," adding, "I don't know if this opportunity would
present itself in the future as well as it is now in terms of state
aid and what they have." A combination of state aid and money the
district set aside in a capital reserve account that was approved by
the voters will fund the work at the facility. The project will not
result in a tax increase.

"Once
again, the community has demonstrated its support for the school
district and for the students," said Christmann after the vote.
"We're very pleased that we'll be able to improve the safety at
Sidway School, both with our buses and with our parent traffic, and
students exiting and entering the school. It also allows us to make
the improvements that were necessary with our maintenance and
buildings and grounds operation, and finally will allow the expansion
of the nature center at Eco Island that so many of our students take
advantage of."

Had
the proposition failed, the money set aside in the capital account
could not have been used in the district's general fund.

"The
state allows reserve funds to be established, but they can only be
used for the purpose that they were set up for, by law," Christmann
said. Money could have "been used for a future capital project."

The
current facility was built in the 1940s, Burns said.

"Grand
Island is an island and will always be an island," Burns said. "We
still have to come over bridges, and because you're an island,
you've always going to need a facility on Grand Island to make
busing work. There is no second choice."

"The
most efficient, effective way to run transportation for an island,
with island residents, and for island taxes, is to have a facility on
Grand Island, and our current facility is just outdated," Burns
said.

Christmann
said anyone who watches the morning bus drop-off "would have a
better idea as to why this proposal was made. It's just not very
safe in the morning, and this will ensure a much higher level of
safety because the buses will not be competing with the parents and
the students who get out of the cars."

As
well, the mechanics who work for the school district "are second to
none, and when we get the state reports, (it notes) the mechanics
(work) in terrible conditions doing an excellent job. I can't
imagine what they're going to do when they have a good place to
work. They'll do even better," Christmann said.